C/EBPβ is a critical mediator of IFN-α-induced exhaustion of chronic myeloid leukemia stem cells.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30755436
Newly published research is showing that interferon-a helps induce exhaustion of CML stem cells (LSC). This could be a useful tool to finally get at LSC's and kill the supply of CML daughter cells in the absence of a TKI.
This may explain why many CML patients who were first treated with IFN-a and then a TKI achieved treatment free remission at substantially higher rates than those who did not have IFN-a.
It's all about getting at the bad stem cells and reducing their number below some magic threshold - so that once below that number, our own killer T-cells can keep them in check.
